Automatic releasing-hook.



H. M. DAVIS.

AUTOMATIC RELEASING HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. H1 1913.

1,173,653. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

entra n 'reres HENRY M. DAVIS, or. ronrswrourn, VIRGINIA.

AUTO ATIC BELEASIQNG-I-IOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb, 2e, isle.

Application filed November 11, 1913. Serial No. 800,315.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I-I'ENRYNI. Davis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmcuth. in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Releasing-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hoisting hooks, and more specifically to antomatic releasing hooks.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device to be attached to the ends of life-boats by means of which such boats may be securely hung from the davits of vessels, but which, in time of danger, may be lowered to the water and automatically released at the instant of contact with the surface of the water, thus permitting them to get away from the side of the vessel immediately, instead ofbeing held alongside of the vessel only to be smashed to pieces in rough weather before the life-boat fastenings can be released.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the combination, arrangement, and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specifications, and then, more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention with book attached to shackle. while Fig. 2 is a front elevation of hook released. Fig.

3 is a fragmenta-l cross-sectional view with tongue shown in lowered line 33 of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention, 1 desposition taken on ignates the plate for securing the automatic releasing hooks to both the prow and stern of a life-boat, by means of bolts inserted through openings 2 therein for that purpose. A bifurcated lug 3 projects from the upperv portion of plate 1, said bifurcated lug being provided transversely thereof with bolt holes through which bolts 4 are inserted to act as a pivot for tongue 5v which is mounted within said bifurcated lug 3. The tongue 5 isProvided at its pivoted end with an offset 6 which. when in locked 130- sition is held spaced apart from buffer plate 7 against which it abuts and which regulates the extent of the'downward drop of tongue 5. on the slightest upward pressure on plate 1, or anything, such as a life-boat, to which said plate is attached. The tongue 5 is adapted to engage a shackle 8 and is held in locked position by a keeper 9 which is pivotally mounted within a bifurcated lug 10 by bolt 11, said keeper 9 being provided with a cam face 12 to engage with the opposing cam face of cam groove 1:2 of the plate 1 so as to regulate upward movement of the keeper. The keeper 9 not only extends upwardly and outwardly so as to engage tongue 5, but also extends horizontally outward from its pivotal point so as to form a butt 13, which said butt is made to flare outwardly from the shank of the keeper, thus providing a weight which, upon the instant of release of the upward pull by shackle 8 on tongue 5, this weighted butt automatically, and by the force of gravity, causes the keeper to drop outwardly and downwardly, thus disengaging the tongue and the shackle and resulting in the device assuming the posi ion shown in Fig. 2. The keeper is provided with an opening 14 transversely thereof, and the tongue with a cooperating opening 15 short of its free end. so that when tongue and keeper are in locked position they may be securely fastened in that position by inserting pin 16 through openings 14 and 15, said pin being flexibly secured by a chain 7 17 secured thereto and to ring 18 fixed to butt 13.

Preparatory to operating my novel automatic releasing hooks, the pin 16 is first removed thus arranging hook to automatically release the shackle the instant the boat to which said hooks are fastened touches the water.

Having now described and pointed out the new and useful features of my invention. I do not limit myself to the shape of ce tain partswhere the shape is not essential. as to the exact shape of the keeper and tongue, as shown in the drawings. nor do I restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but mean and intend to claim all eouivalents and var ations thereof. not departing in principle from my invention and falling within the purview of the a pended claim.

I claim as my invention:

An automatic releasing hook consisting of a plate member adapted to be mounted in a substantially vertical position upon the end of a bolt, said plate member being formed with. a cam groove thereon, a tongue pivotally mounted upon the upper portion of said plate, means to regulate the downward movement of said tongue, said tongue being provided with a perforation transversely therethrough near the free end thereof, a keeper pivotally mounted in spaced apart relation beneath said tongue, said keeper formed with a ring member upon the free end thereof, said ring member provided with a perforation transversely therethrough, said ring member being adapted to engage with the free end of said tongue in locked position and the perforation through said ring member being adapted ture in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HENRY M. DAVIS.

\Vitnesses:

J. C. MORELAND, J AMES A. LAURENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

